Can I register a .de or .ca domain if I don't live in that country?
For .de, yes: DENIC lets people and companies outside Germany register, and only asks you to name a German agent for legal documents if a dispute arises. For .ca, generally no: CIRA requires Canadian presence, such as citizenship, permanent residence or a Canadian company, though a foreign owner of a Canadian-registered trademark can register that exact name.
Updated October 19, 2026 · 7 primary sources, listed below
.de: open to the world
DENIC, the .de registry, states in its applicant FAQ that “it is possible for individuals or institutions (that have legal capacity) not located in Germany to register .de domains.” There is no German address requirement at checkout. The one obligation: under DENIC’s Domain Terms and Conditions, a holder domiciled outside Germany must name an authorised recipient in Germany for official or court documents within two weeks of DENIC asking. DENIC only asks after a rights holder (for example a trademark owner) files a dispute. A real street address is required; a PO box is not enough.
Cost is low: .de renews from $3.93 a year in our daily price matrix.
.ca: Canadians (and Canadian trademarks) only
Every .ca registrant must meet CIRA’s Canadian Presence Requirements for Registrants. The qualifying categories include Canadian citizens, permanent residents ordinarily resident in Canada, corporations under Canadian or provincial law, partnerships and trusts with more than two thirds Canadian members, Canadian educational institutions, hospitals, libraries, unions and political parties, Indigenous peoples, and governments.
The route most foreign companies miss: the owner of a trademark registered under the Trade-marks Act (Canada) qualifies, but only for a .ca name that consists of or includes the exact word component of that mark. A pending application, or a mark registered only in the US or EU, does not count. If the trademark is ACME you can register acme.ca, not cheapwidgets.ca.
Do not fake it: CIRA does not allow trustee services, and it runs Registrant Information Validation audits asking for proof of presence. A registrant who cannot show it loses the domain. For those who qualify, .ca renews from $9.18 a year in our daily price matrix.
Other country codes at a glance
| Extension | Who can register | Source |
|---|---|---|
| .de | Open to anyone. Holder abroad names a German authorised recipient only if DENIC requests it (dispute). | DENIC |
| .ca | Canadian Presence Requirements: citizen, permanent resident, Canadian company, or owner of a Canadian-registered trademark (exact match only). | CIRA |
| .com.br | Brazilian CPF (person) or CNPJ (company); foreign companies need a local procurador. | CGI.br |
| .eu | EU citizens anywhere (since Oct 2019), EU/EEA residents, and organisations established in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway. | EURid |
| .us | US Nexus: citizen or permanent resident, US-formed organisation, or a foreign entity with a bona fide US presence or office. | usTLD |
| .au | Australian presence: citizen or resident, ABN/ACN holder, or Australian trademark (exact match only). | auDA |
| .io, .co, .ai, .me | No residency rule. Sold worldwide as generic-style extensions. | tld.expert |
Planning a German or Canadian launch? A real ccTLD also tells Google the site targets that country (see does a non-.com hurt rankings).
Common questions
Do I need a German address for a .de domain?
No. DENIC states that individuals or institutions not located in Germany can register .de domains. Under its Domain Terms and Conditions, a holder outside Germany must name an authorised recipient in Germany for official or court documents within two weeks, but only when DENIC requests it, which happens when a rights holder starts a dispute.
Can I use a trustee or proxy service to get a .ca?
CIRA's registration agreement does not allow trustee services, and CIRA runs Registrant Information Validation audits that ask for proof of Canadian presence. Registrants who cannot show it have the domain deleted after notices, so a borrowed presence is a real risk.
Which trademark counts for a .ca?
Only a trademark registered under Canada's Trade-marks Act. Pending applications and marks registered elsewhere, such as in the US, do not qualify, and the .ca name must consist of or include the exact word component of the mark.
Which popular country codes are open to anyone?
Many ccTLDs that are marketed generically, such as .io, .co, .ai, .me and .tv, have no residency rule. Restricted ones include .ca, .com.br, .us (US nexus), .au (Australian presence) and .eu (EU/EEA citizens, residents or organisations).
Sources
- DENIC, “FAQs for domain applicants (registration from outside Germany)” (retrieved October 19, 2026).
- DENIC, “Authorised Recipient for the Service of Documents” (retrieved October 19, 2026).
- CIRA, “Canadian Presence Requirements for Registrants, v1.3” (retrieved October 19, 2026).
- EURid, “New eligibility criteria (EU citizens anywhere, Oct 2019)” (October 1, 2019).
- usTLD registry, “usTLD Nexus Codes” (January 1, 2021).
- auDA, “The .au Australian Presence requirement” (retrieved October 19, 2026).
- CGI.br, “Resolution CGI.br/RES/2008/008/P (.br eligibility)” (November 28, 2008).
Extensions on this page
More straight answers
- Will using a non-.com domain hurt my Google rankings?
- Starting an app in Brazil: should you use .com.br or .com?
- Should I buy the .net and .co versions of my domain to protect my brand?
- Will emails from a .xyz or .io address go to spam?
- Is it risky to build my company on a .io domain because of the Chagos Islands deal?
- How much will a .ai domain cost over 5 years, including renewals?
- Why does my .dev site require HTTPS, and can I turn it off?